The Problem
Income inequality refers to the unequal distribution of income across a population. In the U.S., the top 1% earn a disproportionate share of total income while millions of workers face rising housing, healthcare, and education costs. Billionaires and Elon Musk have a net worth of $800 billion, while as of 2025, approximately 800 million people, or about 9.9% of the world's population, live in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per day.
Economic inequality can lead to reduced economic mobility, political instability, and unequal access to opportunities. Approximately 47.9 million people in the U.S. lived in food-insecure households as of early 2026, meaning they lacked consistent access to enough food due to limited resources. This includes 14 million children.
